Palace of Versaille

Before the age of 20, King Louis XVI succeeded to the throne in 1774. As if the huge debt of the previous government was not a big enough responsibility, the king also had to deal with growing resentment toward 'despotic' monarchy. To top it all off, Louis XVI had a very low self-esteem and felt like he was not good enough. Consequently, he and his family became members of Trois Frères à l'Orient de Versailles, a masonic lodge.

Religious conformity and foreign policy were two of King Louis XVI's main concerns during his reign. His lack of tolerance for diverse religions added with the pressures of like-minded Jansenist in Parlement lead to the exile of Jesuits. He believed that if he reintroduced the parliaments, he could gain the love of his people. Louis XVI was intellectually able to rule as the King of France, however, his opponents and many historians believe that his upbringing caused him to be quite soft and indecisive. King Louis' actions proved that he earnestly wanted to gain the love and favor of his people. After recalling the parliament, he said “It may be considered politically unwise, but it seems to me to be the general wish and I want to be loved.” In spite of his generous and lavish upbringing, King Louis XVI was accepted by many people as a good king because he said he "must always consult public opinion; it is never wrong." Fortunately for King Louis, his experienced advisor, Jean-Frédéric Phélypeaux, comte de Maurepas took care of many important issues for the king until his death in 1781.